The Champions League of Darts

This forthcoming weekend marks the return of the Champions League of Darts, a competition that was only instituted last season. Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, will play host to the tournament for the second successive year having hosted the first ever competition last season. On that occasion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor won the competition in its very first year of existence, beating van Gerwen 11-5. Nonetheless, Mighty Mike’s supporters are optimistic about his chances of success this year with him setting a goal of winning the competition. It seems that the world number one is returning to the very best of his abilities.

The Dutchman is in inspired form ahead of this weekend’s competition, and his supporters are certainly enthused and enlivened by his recent performances. Having opted to take a break over the summer period to spend time with his family (following the birth of his daughter); the 28-year-old has made a purposefully energetic return to the darts stage, with successive European triumphs.

Successive European triumphs

His first competition following the birth of his child was the Dutch Darts Masters, a competition that he’s won for the past three years. A pulsating quarter-final was accompanied by a 6-2 victory against Michael Smith in the semi-final of the competition, before registering a comfortable 6-1 triumph against Steve Beaton in the final. His victory was historic as it signalled the fourth time in as many years that van Gerwen has won the Dutch masters in his native country.

Success in his country of origin was duly followed by a dominative display in Germany, one that is sufficient to alarm his opponents this weekend despite being drawn in the supposed ‘Group of death’. The Dutchman’s ascendance and superiority were palpable, as is reflected by his magnificent 6-0 victories against both Richard North and Simon Whitlock. The pinnacle of the tournament was his 6-3 triumph against Rob Cross in the final which saw Gerwen lift his fifth European title of the year.

Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Following his brief break from the sport, it seems that the Dutchman has recuperated well, trained and he’s now energised with meaningful intent as he looks to win the Champions League of Darts for the very first time.

Success this weekend would only serve to better what has been a spectacular year for the Dutchman. Coupled with the delights of child birth, the world number one has been triumphant in the World Championship, the Premier League and the Masters this year – achievements that reflect his unequivocal position as the best darts player in the world.

Rivalling Taylor’s legacy

At the age of 28, Gerwen is endowed with longevity and having ascertained his status as the world’s best player; he must surely be motivated by the prospect of pursuing the legendary reputation that Phil Taylor has attained in the sport.

The 57-year-old has been playing darts since 1986, and he’s widely considered as the greatest player of all-time. He also holds the record for the most world championships ever won, a startling total of 16.

Michael van Gerwen has been playing darts since 2002, and over recent years he’s begun to reaffirm his dominance in the sport. While it might be a fanciful ambition to attain, the Dutchman should aspire to rival Taylor’s legacy, which could be obtainable if he continues to practice and demonstrate the form that has established himself as an undeniable force in the darts world.

Having amassed such a decorated and coveted history of success during his professional career, van Gerwen will be vying to add yet another competition to his ever-expanding list of honours.

If he is to realise his ambition, he must conquer the might of Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Van Barneveld who are all participating in the same group as him. This will also denote one of the last battles in the Taylor-MVG rivalry as the Englishman is poised to retire at the end of the season.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Michael van Gerwen is currently the best darts player on the planet, the question that remains to be answered is he’s able to maintain and strengthen his domination for the foreseeable future